A win for death penalty opponents

On Ash Wednesday, Illinois Governor Pat Quinn signed a law abolishing
the death penalty in his state, making the Land of Lincoln the 16th
state where capital punishment is no longer an option.

"It is
impossible to create a perfect system, free of all mistakes," Quinn said
after signing the death penalty law, which takes effect July 1. "I
think it's the right and just thing to abolish the death penalty and
punish those who commit heinous crimes—evil people—with life in prison
without parole or any chance of release."

Quinn, who is Catholic,
revealed that he turned to his faith—to the Bible and to Catholic
leaders and tradition—in contemplating the bill that lawmakers delivered
to him in January.